Improved device for moving cars on the track



UNITED STATEs PATENT OEEIoE.

J. W. PETTENGILL, OF ROOKFORD, ILLINOIS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,285, dated September 25, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. W. PETTENGILL, of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Device for Moving Cars on the Track; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereot', which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specitcation, in which- Figure l is a side view of. my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the line am, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates toa new and improved device for moving cars on the track, and is designed to supersede the pinch-bar, the implement now used for such purpose.

The invention consists of a grapple fitted on a rail of the track, and having a lever attached toit, which lever is provided with a handle, and has a rod attached toit, which rod is connected to the car by means ot' a clamp, all being arranged as hereinafter fully shown and described, whereby the desired work may be done with the greatest facility.

A represents a grapple, composed of two jaws, B B, of such form that they may grasp the rail and be fitted snugly to it. These two jaws B B are connected by a hinge or joint, a, to admit of them opening and closing, and they are secured to the rail by a clasp, O, said clasp being attached to one of the jaws by a joint, b, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

D represents a lever, the lower end of which is secured by a fulcrumpin, c, to upright lugs d on the clamp A. This lever has an arm or handle, E, projecting from it nearly at right angles, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of the lever D has a rod, F, attached to it by a pivot, c, and to the ou ter end of the rod F there is secured a clamp, G, which is shown clearly i in Fig. 1.

In using the device the rod F is attached to the car by applying the clamp Gr to the under side of the end piece of the car-bed, and the grapple A is applied to one of the rails.

By raising the arm or h-andle E the grapple A will slide back on the rail H, the direction being indicated by arrow 1; but by pressing down on the arm or handle the grapple will remain stationary and the car will be moved in the direction indicated by arrow 2; and by working the arm or handle E up and down, the operator walking back, the motion of the car will be continuous. By reversing the position of the grapple on the rail, which maybe done by the removal of the pin or bolt c, the car may be moved in the opposite direction..

The grapple A will slide or slip in one direction only on the rail H, in consequence ot the jaws B B being bent or curved to ii't snugly to the sides of the rail in front ot' the lever D, as shown atf f, and when power is applied to the arm or handle E in an upward direction the grapple will slip back, but will bind firmly on or against the rail when said arm or handle is pressed down.

VThis invention has been practically tested and operates well. By its use a loaded car has been moved up a grade of one hundred (100) feet to the mile one foot at .ea-ch stroke of the arm or handle, and with the same ease that a loaded car can be moved with a pinchbar one inch on the same tra-ck to each movement of the former.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The lever D, with arm or handle E attached, and a rod, F, with clamp Gr secured to it, in connection with a grapple, A, constructed and arranged as shown and described, or in any equivalent way, so that it will grasp the rail and slip or slide thereon in one direction under one movement of the arm or handle E, and remain fixed or stationary on the rail under the opposite movement of the arm or handle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witnesses J. W. PETTENGILL.

CHARLES SABIN, CHARLES O. UPToN. 

